Mission, Values, and Goals
Psychology is a discipline that bridges content areas addressed by many other programs and departments and provides the basic and applied science expertise to address a variety of societal needs. Members of the psychology department engage in basic and applied sciences as well as contribute to critical discourse and theory development in the field. The Department seeks not only to teach what is known, but also to develop knowledge, to apply that knowledge to human problems, and to instill the methods of creative, critical, scientific inquiry in our students. Our goal is to improve our performance in all of our areas of responsibility in accordance with the vision provided by the University of Nevada, Reno.

The objectives of our department are directly in line with those of the university as well as being consonant with the overall mission of the college. Specifically, our goals are to:

Educate
The Department is dedicated to excellence in teaching both in the classroom and in direct learning settings in undergraduate and graduate levels of study. Our areas of teaching include basic science, applied science, and conceptual areas. The Department emphasizes continued quality instruction that leads to desired learning outcomes, and works to refine and apply new educational technologies within its curriculum that produce excellent outcomes.

Explore
We have enhanced our department´s visibility as a nationally prominent center for research that takes seriously the social responsibilities that flow from participation in a public, land grant institution. One of the characteristic properties of the department is its relatively pragmatic and real world orientation to research, even in the basic domain.

Engage
Faculty in the department continue to work to expand ways in which to contribute their expertise to the community in a variety of outreach activities. Our service involves a wide range of community stakeholders including state funded mental health organizations, non-profit agencies, and individuals with known needs. We provide professional services to families and individuals in the areas of autism, gerontology, substance abuse, and general psychotherapy.

Enhance
In all of its actions, the Department seeks to create a safe and supportive learning environment that is respectful of diversity, avoids prejudice of all kinds, maintains an attitude of open and free inquiry, builds a sense of intellectual community and mutual respect, and that takes seriously the social responsibilities that flow from participation in a public, land grant institution.

Recent assessment of the department summarizes the many successes of our program and graduates. The Psychology department will be sending out a student and alumni survey on "survey monkey" in late April thru early May 2008. If you are a student or alumni expect an email with a link to the survey.